Axle suspension

Abstract

An axle suspension includes a vehicular frame and first and second mounting fixtures mounted in spaced relation beneath the vehicular frame. First and second swing arms have first and second ends and are substantially parallel. The first ends are pivotally mounted to the first mounting fixture for vertical pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal first pivot axis. An axle is positioned on top of and perpendicular to the first swing arm and the second swing arm. The axle is mounted toward the second end of the first swing arm and the second swing arm by underlying resilient elastomer bushings wherein limited movement of the axle is accommodated about a substantially horizontal second pivot axis. Air spring suspension is positioned between the axle and the frame wherein pivotal movement in an upward direction about the first pivot axis is dampened.

1. An axle suspension system, comprising:
 an elongated and longitudinally extending vehicular frame; 
 a first mounting fixture and a second mounting fixture mounted in a transversely spaced relation beneath said vehicular frame; 
 a first elongated and longitudinally extending swing arm having a first end and a second end; 
 said first end of said first swing arm being pivotally secured to said first mounting fixture about a horizontally disposed first pivot axis which is transversely disposed with respect to said vehicular frame; 
 a second elongated and longitudinally extending swing arm having a first end and a second end; 
 said first end of said second swing arm being pivotally secured to said second mounting fixture about a horizontally disposed second pivot axis which is transversely disposed with respect to said vehicular frame; 
 said first and second swing arms being substantially parallel to one another; 
 a load transfer assembly secured to and extending between said second ends of said first and second swing arms; 
 an elongated and longitudinally extending first cradle bracket having first and second ends; 
 said first cradle bracket being pivotally secured, intermediate its ends, to said first swing arm about a horizontally disposed and transversely extending third pivot axis; 
 an elongated and longitudinally extending second cradle bracket having first and second ends; 
 said second cradle bracket being pivotally secured, intermediate its ends, to said second swing arm about a horizontally disposed and transversely extending fourth pivot axis; 
 said third pivot axis and said fourth pivot axis being parallel to one another; 
 an elongated axle having a first end, a second end, a first side and: a second side; 
 said axle being secured, adjacent said first end thereof, to said first cradle bracket intermediate said first and second ends of said first cradle bracket; 
 said axle being secured, adjacent said second end thereof, to said second cradle bracket intermediate said first and second ends of said second cradle bracket; 
 a first air spring suspension member secured to and extending between said vehicular frame and said first end of said first cradle bracket; 
 a second air spring suspension member secured to and extending between said vehicular frame and said second end of said first cradle bracket; 
 a third air spring suspension member secured to and extending between said vehicular frame and said first end of said second cradle bracket; 
 a fourth air spring suspension member secured to and extending between said second end of said second cradle bracket; 
 said first and third air spring suspensions being positioned at said first side of said axle; 
 said second and fourth air spring suspensions being positioned at said second side of said axle; 
 a V-shaped upper linkage having an apex and distal ends; 
 said apex of said upper linkage being secured to said axle with said distal ends of said upper linkage being secured to said vehicular frame whereby said upper linkage acts against lateral movement of said axle and acts against relative vertical movement of said first and sedond swing arms. 
 
     
     
       2. The axle suspension system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one shook absorber positioned between said first cradle bracket and said vehicular frame and at least one shock absorber positioned between said second cradle bracket and said vehicular frame. 
     
     
       3. The axle suspension system of  claim 1  wherein said upper linkage, said first and second swing arms, said first and second cradle brackets and said first and second mounting fixtures form a parallelogram structure in a plane perpendicular to said axle. 
     
     
       4. The axle suspension system of  claim 1  wherein said first and second swing arms, said V-shaped upper linkage and said first and second cradle brackets form a Watts linkage. 
     
     
       5. The axle suspension system of  claim 1  wherein said load transfer assembly, said V-shaped upper linkage and said first and second cradle brackets form a parallelogram structure in a plane parallel to said axle.